Psychodynamic approach

• What is the unconscious mind?

  The part of the mind we are unaware of that directs behaviour
• What does the unconscious mind contain?

  Instincts, drives, and repressed disturbing memories
• What is the Id in the structure of personality?

  Primitive, pleasure principle, unconscious drives and instincts
• When is the Id present?

  At birth
• What is the Ego in the structure of personality?

  Rational, reality principle, mediates between Id and Superego
• When does the Ego develop?

  At two years
• What is the Superego in the structure of personality?

  ‘Conscience’, morality principle
• When is the Superego formed?

  At the end of the phallic stage
• What are the psychosexual stages of development?

  • Oral
  • Anal
  • Phallic
  • Latency
  • Genital
• What must be resolved at each psychosexual stage?

  A conflict that must be resolved before advancing to the next stage
• What are defence mechanisms?

  Unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage conflicts
• What is the purpose of defence mechanisms?

  To manage the conflicts of the Id and Superego
• Oral Stage


  1. 1 year: goals - obtain nutrition and comfort, conflict - sucking and biting, suppressed desire - becomes fixation (e.g. oral obsession)
• Anal Stage


  1. 3 years: goals - control and independence, conflict - bowel movements and control, suppressed desire - becomes fixation (e.g. strictness, cleanliness)
• Phallic Stage


  1. 6 years: goals - exploration and discovery, conflict - Oedipus complex, suppressed desire - becomes fixation (e.g. competitiveness, rivalry)
• Latency Stage


  1. 12 years: goals - social interaction and learning, conflict - none, suppressed desire - latent
• Genital Stage


  12+ years: goals - maturity and healthy relationships, conflict - none (if childhood stages resolved)
• Erogenous Zone (Oral Stage)


  The mouth, primarily for sucking and feeding
• Erogenous Zone (Anal Stage)


  The anus, primarily for control and independence
• Erogenous Zone (Phallic Stage)


  The genitals, primarily for exploration and discovery
• Oedipus Complex


  Feeling attracted to the opposite-sex parent and developing rivalry with the same-sex parent (Phallic Stage)
• Latent Period


  A period of relative calm and reduced anxiety (Latency Stage)
• Genital Stage Goals


  Maturity, healthy relationships, and identity development